5 Gallon Pest (Anemone) Tank

[NanoCrazed]

Nope, not testing done here... all survival of fittest action going on... :)

I have a reclaimed Nat geo 25W preset heater in the back area.

As for water, I've been using filtered NSW... around 1.026sg but planning to test the system using tap with dechlorinator when I stop feeling lazy. Local shop sells NSW that's Ca+ buffered to about 440 for $1.25/ gal. So hard to motivate myself to mix. But I do have 20lbs of salt sitting around so will probably mix my own soon as an experiment. Apparently water in my area has very low TDS... folks in San Francisco who have same water source have been having great success from mix using tap

This is my least cared for but one of my favorite setups

 

[Cnidoblast]

TBH I would just stay with NSW and not risk trying tap water - You will only need to a water change every three months or so with this type of system

 

[NanoCrazed]

TBH I would just stay with NSW and not risk trying tap water - You will only need to a water change every three months or so with this type of system

I might wind up doing just that... just figured if there were a tank I would experiment with, it would be the pest tank... but I am liking it so much, I probably would be bummed if it crashes

 

[JBKReef]

This looks to be begging for a gorilla crab or some other pest

 

[dmw913]

I love the creative concept! Keep up the good work!!!

 

[hybridazn]

Well this is certainly different haha.

Great idea!

 

[Cnidoblast]

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/marineland-portrait-glass-led-aquarium-kit#
@NanoCrazed
Do you think the included light would work for project like this?

I could keep the system in my room but it's pretty cold at times - I think the pests are so hardy they wont get hurt tho

Just a matter of convincing my mother to let me spend money on that tank kit and a 3d printer :D

 

[NanoCrazed]

3d printer? Assuming that's separate from the pest tank project you might have in mind...Otherwise, I'm curious! :)

I think the light with the kit is a bit low powered since I reused the light to replace the burned out one on my marineland 3G Contour shrimp tank. It might work but you might only get good growth at the top of your scape closest to the light... good news is that the pest anemones will move to their happy place, and are extremely hardy.

If you go with the 5G (which is what I have since I had it lying around), I would suggest buying a cheap light off of eBay. Alternatively, the Petco Imaginarium 3.6G (often on sale for $36) is a good choice for a smaller setup that can look awesome. I originally bought it for my pest tank project but went with the 5G since the rock I got with the gracilis was much bigger than the 3.6G would allow.

If you go the 3.6G route, the tank is short enough that the stock light should get you across the line I think... Otherwise start there and if things aren't what you want, get either a cheap light off eBay (fluval nano lights are about $36 or cheap generic leds for about $12)...or get PAR38 bulb from home depot for about $22, if you have an old desk lamp lying about to reuse.

Heater wise, use a preset cheap Petco heater or any other cheap presets. The usually fall about 78F+/-2...which is what I am using in my setup.

The beauty of this project is that you can and should use any spare thigs you have lying around or get cheap bits to put together but yield a great, interesting setup. The things that go in are usually so hardy, you can literally through stuff in Willy nilly and let nature work or not work and still be pleasantly surprised.

 

[dilligaf29]

this would be a buffet for my file fish .cool idea =)

 

[NanoCrazed]

This looks to be begging for a gorilla crab or some other pest

If I ever luck out with one, it goes in!

I actually have a salvaged pistol shrimp in there as well and its happy as a clam ruling the roost.

Literally, I rinse /swish all my frags in this tank in hopes of getting hitchhikers to fall off into it. :)

 

[NanoCrazed]

this would be a buffet for my file fish .cool idea =)

Also another reason I don't toss a peppermint shrimp in here... ;)

 

[Wbrian]

Missing some GSP and a Kenya Tree...:)
Love this concept. Thanks

 

[paperdesk]

You definitely need some Blue Clove Polyp at the least, maybe some GSP and Xenia too. I just nuked them in my tank with Fenbendazole or I could send you some! How about zoas?

 

[paperdesk]

You definitely need some Blue Clove Polyp at the least, maybe some GSP and Xenia too. I just nuked them in my tank with Fenbendazole or I could send you some! How about zoas?

 

[NanoCrazed]

You definitely need some Blue Clove Polyp at the least, maybe some GSP and Xenia too. I just nuked them in my tank with Fenbendazole or I could send you some! How about zoas?

There are a few zoa and paly hitchhikers plus some cloves on a few of the rocks already... and threw in a few loose floating ones i found.

Also have a large egg crate section with GSP that I will cut a piece of and toss in.

With any luck this will turn into a pest jungle!

 

[NanoCrazed]

Latest score... a Medusa cuke and some green bubbles.

 

[NanoCrazed]

Also just notice a baby gracilis nem (circled)... the "adult" version is the bigger one in the middle of shot with pink tips

 

[Wiz]

Very cool. Thanks for alerting me to it. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find more bubble algae. LOL glad I can follow along now

 

[NanoCrazed]

Check out the cuke eating... watch the arms pulling things into its mouth.

 

[Wiz]

Check out the cuke eating... watch the arms pulling things into its mouth.

Really good vid. Keep them coming